PRETORIUSKOP, SOUTH AFRICA —Our fact finding mission and demo of Aurora Flight Sciences’ small UAV turned operational. After officials saw the potential for a tactically deployed UAV, we were quickly embedded with rangers to support live counter poaching missions.

Section Ranger Rodney Landela couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. He had in his hands a live video feed of a hotspot 2 kilometers away. After 15 minutes of training, Ranger Landela was deploying and flying a UAV where he wanted, when he wanted. A river bed that normally took four hours to clear now took 30 minutes.

Scott “LB” Williams, Director General of the Reserve Protection Agency, was advising the rangers on tactics.

Justin is the Founder and first CFO of Nova Labs, a nonprofit makerspace and community innovation lab located in Reston, VA. He can be reached at leto.justin [at] gmail [dot] com and on twitter @letojj.